Rating: Additional HarperTeen, 2008, $17.99
ISBN: 9780061366918
ISBN: 9780061366918
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Kate Sanderson is the daughter of a rational law professor and a passionate Shakespeare scholar. When she wins a contest to study Romeo and Juliet in Verona, it's a great chance forher to experience romance in the setting of one of the most romantic stories ever. Which would be great--except Kate was cruelly dumped and has given up on romance forever. Then she meets Giacomo.
What sounds like a pretty interesting premise is actually not quite as interesting. The writing is good; however, it seems that the characters lack depth and ultimately they aren't very compelling. The romances between the characters seem forced, and the reader may find it hard to connect with any of the characters, even Kate. As much as I wanted to like this story, I could not.
I tthink this story ends up suffering from the "trying to do to much"s. Read it if you LOVE Romeo and Juliet, but for a better romantic comedy, you can read Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, or try Suzanne Harper's first book, The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney.
Reviewer: Shirley Ku, Fullerton Public Library
